The Cult List: The Ten Best Community Episodes of ALL TIME!!!

Ah Community. For the past five and a half...alright, four and a half years, Dan Harmon's tall, dark, twisted fantasy of a TV show has touched the hearts of freaks, geeks, slackers and the occasional normal person alike. There's been episodes about space travel, six different time lines, paintball, pottery, zombie outbreaks, playing pool in your underwear, and even a season that may or may not have all been the result of a gas leak (looking right at you season four). Whatever you're into, Community has likely explored, and even though it's on its six season and it's second Network (having jumped from the corporate overlords of NBC to the internet confines of Yahoo Screen), the show remains as nerdy, giddy and strong as ever. And that's even with the fact that beloved characters like Shirley Bennett, Troy Barnes and Pierce Hawthorne are now gone, due to death, sailing and whatever the hell Shirley was doing in the post credit scene for the season six opener "Ladders". All I know is Steve Webber was there, and it's the funniest he's been since Dracula: Dead and Loving It.

Anyway, what's the point of all this? Simply put, I want to count down the ten best Community episodes ever! I know, I know, yet another list. But hey, lists are fun, and you're totally, TOTALLY not going to have to read another for a couple more weeks or so. Alright, at least a week. Okay, probably less. Man, I'm not helping my cause here. Let's just break down the best of the best, the Troy and Abed in the Morning (NIGHTS!) of Community, the ten best episodes Dan Harmon and co have to offer. We're back on track! ON WITH THE SHOW!

(note, Community has a lot, and I mean A LOT, of great episodes. Not all of them made it here. If your favorite didn't, don't be offended.)

10.

Physical Education (Season 1)

An underrated gem from the still feeling itself out first season, Physical Education features two glorious plotlines. In the main arc, Jeff Winger battles with Greendale's gym teacher (who looks a lot like Shawn Hunter's dad) over how one should dress for a game of pool. As that..interesting battle takes place, the rest of the gang works tirelessly to set Abed up with an apparent admirer, despite Abed's lack of interest. Hilarity ensues as Abed at one point acts like a vampire (the only version of himself fit to talk to the girl believed to be crushing on him), we find out there's a white Abed and Jeff's battle with the gym teacher ends in the most intense battle of strip pool ever. You will be delighted and deeply disturbed by the end. Unless you're Annie Edison, who can't help but sneak a peek at Jeff. What, you think she'd be looking at the gym teacher?

MY EYES! MY EYES!

9.

Paradigms of Human Memory (Season 2)

You remember those episodes from some of your favorites that serve as a sort of clip show? This is Community's clip show, only with the a twist; the clips are never before seen footage. We learn a lot of valuable information, like how Jeff and Britta have secretly been hooking up, the immense amount of fights, weird adventures and Jeff speeches the group endures, the Dean's never ending costume collection and did I mention Jeff likes to give a lot of speeches? Best moment; a scene that shows the group stuck in a mental institution due to mercury poisoning, which leads to dear old Jeff saying some things about Harrison Ford that must be seen to believe. It's like The Conversation all over again!

8.

 Geothermal Escapism (Season 5)

I'm prepared to lose nerd creed over this, but I had no idea what the game Floor of Lava was before this episode. Seriously; never played it as a kid. It's not my fault, I swear. Blame it on Rhode Island and our absolute lack of variety when it comes to interesting things. No wonder we ended up as the smallest state.

Oh yes, the episode. Not only did "Geothermal Escapism" introduce me to Floor of Lava and serve as yet another excellent Community episode where weird competition occurs, but it was the most fitting send off for Troy Barnes. The friendship between him and Abed was arguably the best thing about Community the first five seasons (besides the paintball episodes and Alison Brie), and it proves to be a strong emotional center for this episode. Abed isn't the only one who wants this Floor of Lava game to go on forever to keep Troy from going. Never fear though, there's still plenty of humor, yet another LeVar Burton cameo (though not as good as his appearance in season two), and there's still plenty of Alison Brie. Seriously, I didn't mention her enough in this. What's wrong with me? Don't answer that.

7.

Epidemiology (Season 2)

Like with its unique competition episodes, Community always handles  the holiday episodes well. Epidemiology is the best of the Halloween ones, which is something considered the others include Abed as Batman and a bunch of scary stories that prove the entire group might be nuts. But let's be real; you aren't beating  an episode where bad taco meat/biohazard that turns everyone into zombies. That's just tops, and that's before you include the never ending Jeff-Rich from Pottery class feud, Abed and Troy trying to score with girls by re-enacting Aliens and Shirley and Chang doing it in a bathroom. Perhaps it's for the best that no one remembers anything afterwards. Or not, seeing as the same thing potentially happens next year too! I mean you don't see it, but it's strong suggested.

6.

Modern Warfare (Season 1)

Towards the end of the semester, Jeff decides to leave the study group to go take a nap in his car. When he wakes up soon after, Greendale has been left in a semi post apocalyptic wasteland, where an all out paintball war for priority registration (the chance to choose and schedule all your classes first) has begun. An homage to everything from 28 Days Later to Die Hard, "Modern Warfare" proved to be the breakout episode for Community, and the point where the show went from good to great. It also finally sees Jeff and Britta have sex, finally ending their sexual tension and serving as the last time Community catered to traditional sitcom clichés. Thank goodness.

Still a better love story than Twilight

5.

Digital Estate Planning (Season 3)

Ever wanted an episode of a show to be filmed like it's an 8 bit video game? Community has got just the thing for you with "Digital Estate Planning", which finds the gang fighting for Pierce's inheritance in a video game created by his late, racist, misogynist, just plain evil father (Larry Cedar). The secret weapon; Giancarlo Esposito's Gilbert, the Hawthorne family servant motivated to claim the inheritance as his own. He proves to be a great villain and eventually a sympathetic character. Also look out for Abed meeting Gilda, a computer program who turns out to be the love of his life. Who knew Abed would fall for someone who doesn't even exist?

4.

Advanced Dungeons and Dragons (Season 2)

I've never cared for Dungeons and Dragons; sorry, but there's even a limit for my nerdom as it turns out. That said, I don't know if I laughed harder at a Community episode than this one. Looking to help out a depressed classmate in need, the study group, sans Pierce, stages a Dungeons and Dragons game in order to cheer sad young Neil (Charley Koontz) up. Of course, Pierce interrupts, and angry over being excluded, does everything in his power to send Neil over the age. Pretty much everything Pierce did during his villain stage was gold, and this was no different here. Combine that with Annie describing the most vivid, graphic sex scene in D & D history (so graphic, we aren't even allowed to hear it), and this might be my favorite episode of the show (though not the most well done obviously). Too bad the sequel episode in season five doesn't quite live up.

3.

A Fistful of Paintballs/For a Few Paintballs More (Season 2)

Alright, so I'm perhaps cheating a bit here. Technically, "A Fistful of Paintballs" and "For a Few Paintballs More" are separate episodes, and each has their own very distinct look (the first is a spaghetti western, the second is a sci-fi opera). But if I separated them, one would have to be left off. And that's not happening. It's Community and paintball! No other combination lives up to that, and that includes such greats like pizza pretzel combos, spaghetti and meatballs and Buffy and Angel. That's right, it's better than Buffy and Angel! There goes my Buffy #1 fan card.

Oh boy...

Oh right, the episode. Unlike "Modern Warfare", the prize here is a whole lot of cash, although it's nothing more than a ruse for the neighboring City College to come in and takeover Greendale. Josh Holloway guest stars as Josh Holloway (his character is different, but come on, it's pretty much him), Abed acts like Han Solo, and Pierce potentially, maybe redeems himself after his villainous turn? Who cares, it's Community and paintball. Jeff could be killed off, and the episode would still be awesome. It's the combo man. It's the combo.

2.

Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas (Season 2)

By the time "Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas" aired in the middle of season two, Community had found the form that has made it one of the best comedies TV has seen in the past decade. This episode shows us layers we never expected the show to have. Yes, it's still hilarious, and yes, it looks on the surface to be nothing more than a homage/parody to the stop motion holiday specials of your childhood (yes, the episode was shot entirely in stop motion). But the best thing about "Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas" is how it highlights Abed as the heart and soul of the show, and how his eccentric, childlike nature ultimately serves as the thing that keeps the group grounded. This is Danny Pudi's best performance as the iconic character, and the most heartwarming episode Community ever produced. And that's despite the fact that it gets dark in the middle. Like Batman: Arkham City dark. Alright, maybe not that bad.

1.

Remedial Chaos Theory (Season 3)

What else was it going to be? "Remedial Chaos Theory" may be the easiest choice here, but it's that for the reason. The episode that saved season three is pure, unfiltered dynamite (can dynamite even be filtered?), featuring six different time lines, six different time lines, and SIX. DIFFERENT. TIMELINES!!! The best part is that everyone in the cast nails their role throughout. Seriously, do you have any idea how excellent everyone had to be in an episode this complex (and yes, it is complex)? To play six different variations of yourself and be good at each one is quite the accomplishment. The fact that the characters don't even change that much between each timeline just makes it better. Subtly is a powerful thing. Too bad nobody told Nicolas Cage.

That said, this episode absolutely brings the laughs as well. We're introduced to the Darkest Timeline, which would grow to become the only, and I mean only, consistently funny plot thread of the gas leak season. The greatest gif in Community history comes from this episode, the one where Troy screams at the scary doll as his new apartment goes up in flames. And what about evil voice box Troy and evil AHHHHBED?! So many moments and so many good performances by the main cast make this a no brainer for Community's best episode. Any list that doesn't have this at the top should tell you that you're truly in the Darkest Timeline.

That'll do it. Hope you all enjoy. Tomorrow is Lucha Underground Wednesday, so I'll see you for that. Till then, watch Community, read the Pen Is Mightier on LOP, seek out the law firm of Ambrose and Randbrose for all your legal needs (please don't, they aren't real), happy Cinco de Mayo, try yourself some of that Pepsi with real sugar, watch Dennis Schroeder, for he is an absolute beast, have your cake and eat it too, and tell your local cable or satellite provider to stop showing that fucking Hannah and her horse commercial. The talking horse keeps DUCHOVNY awake at night, or so I'm told.

Please change disks to continue...